Hello, Christmas theme again but before I do I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who have sent me cards. I have not yet replied to all of you because I am so far behind  - yes again -  on my email. 

Also I had an email from Roy [Machins Made Easy at 

http://gbmachins.co.uk ] who sent me a scan of the GB 

definitive European Football prestige booklet pane with the 

picture of George best placed in the centre of the pane. 

You may recall I wrote about him last week. This was the stamp. 

Thanks Roy, and for those of you who have a GB Machins as 

a collecting interest I recommend his web site and his excellent

eBay listings.

Ok, Christmas stamps. Tonight I have these rather stunning, in my view, stamps from Canada.

There is so much one could say about them and I guess many questions about their design and what they depict. But I will concentrate on something special to Christmas and that is holly.

I will send these Canadian stamps to whoever can tell me something about the history of the holly, and why holly is a topical plant at Christmas. No first entry this time, I will be the judge of the most interesting and well researched text, and hopefully it will be interesting enough that I can use it in a follow up article later this week.  Please don’t forget to send your mailing address with your entry. I only ask because my filing system needs improving and it just saves me so much time searching for your address if this is not the first time you have written to me. Thank you

I have two Christmas functions tomorrow evening so I doubt I will be writing for a few days. Just read some previous writings if you miss me.  

Enjoy your stamps… Best wishes…Michael